Submarine mine.



G. B. RILEY, G. C. SHERMAN & H. O. MOCK.

Patented Feb 18, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

[/YVENTORS.

G. B. RILEY, C. C. SHERMAN & H. O. MOCK.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION man JAN. 17. 1918,

C. C. V m. LW 6 G. B. RILEY, C. C. SHERMAN & H. O. MOCK.

SUBMARINE MINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1918'.

1,295,066. Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

f N VE/V 70/75. GB. FILE Y, C. C. SHERM/l/V Q hf 0. Mock TED STATES PATENT onr cn.

GERARD BROOK RILEY, CARLTON COLLIN GWOOD SHERMAN, AND HERBERT QCTAVIUS MOO K, OF LONDON, ENGLAND. I

SUBMARINE MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

7 '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, GERARD BROOK ments in Submarine Mines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to submarine mines of the kind in which a mine and sinker are connected together by a mooring rope carried by a Winding drum, provided with a ratchet cooperating with a pawl, which is adapted to be operated by a plummet or like weight, the length of the connecting chain between the plummet and pawl or part operating the pawl giving in the well-known manner the depth at which the mine will be laid below the surface. In such mine gear the retention of the mine to the sinker depends entirely upon the mooring rope, so that if the drum is unpawled at the moment of launching the mine will be on the surface of the water immediately on launching and the mooring rope will be paying out from the drum, so that the mine will be free to follow the mine-layer, with the result that the mooring rope will take up an inclined position so that when the sinker gets to the bottom, the mine will be above the desired depth owing to a greater length of mooring rope being paid out from the drum than required for the desired depth setting; also owing to the disturbance oi the water in the wake of the ship'there is he possibility of the mooring rope fouling projectin parts of the mine and sinker; and also of t e sensitive parts of the mine being damaged by the shocks or blows. 4

The present invention consists broadly in securing the mine and sinker together by a releasable device which is additional to the normal mooring connection and is of such a character that the mine and sinker are bound, clamped, 'or otherwise connected together to form a unit having the property offa single rigid body, which willenter the water on launchin and remain as such for the required perio of time until all danger is eliminated of the mooring rope fouling any part of the mine or sinker or of the mine following the mine-layer to cause the mine mooring to take up an inclined position, or of the mine being damaged by the wash, the operation of the device resulting in the unit, comprising the mine and sinker, being divided into the two component parts which then function in the normal wellknown manner.

In carrying this invention into practice the mine and sinker are bound or clamped together by one or more bands or the like of any suitable shape and material, one or both ends of which is or are adapted to be released at the required time whereby themine is unbound or unclamped from the sinker, and is then connected to the sinker only by V the mooring rope in the usual manner.

For successful operation, it is necessary to provide a clamping action on the mine itself so as to bind the mine andsinker directly or positively together. Any other means such as a single length of cable connecting the mine at one point only to any other part of the mine gear will not provide a rigid compound body as the mine and sinker will be able to move relatively to each other. The clamping band may be passed around the'mine for a considerable length of the surface of the same, the ends being brought to the sinker and one or both ends adapted to be retained by a releasing device. Or two separate bands may be used one of each of which is connected to a plug, eye, or a band secured on the mine, in this case it being necessary'to release the other ends of the two clasping bands. With a single band it is preferable to link one end to an adjustable tensioning device and the other end to the releasing device, whereby on the mine and sinker being assembled and the clamping band engaged by the releasing device, the clamping action can be adjusted by the tensioning device.

The release of the clamping device may be effected in a variety of Ways such as by operation of mechanical devices controlled by a moving part ,of the mine gear or hydrostatic or combined hydrostatic and mechani: cal de"ices.

According to one type of mechanical device suitable for the purpose, the plummet or plummet chain, on the plummet falling from its retaining member, which may be of of delay mechanism,-such as for instance, a

clock or dashpot, is employed to release directly or indirectly through a mechanical device a member adapted to retain the clamping band in position.

Constructional .forms of mine gear em bodying this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1- is an elevation, and Fig. 2 a part sectional elevation on a larger scale, illustrating one form of releasing mechanism which may be employed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of another form, Fig. 4. is an elevation on a larger scale illustrating details of another form of releasing device, Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4.

illustrating a modified construction of the arrangement shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an elevation illustrating yet another form, Fig. 7 is an elevation illustrating a form in which the hydrostat is employed, and Fig. 8 is an elevation of another 'orm in which a hydrostat is employed.

In all the forms shown on the drawings the construction and'arrangement of mine 1, sinker 2, mooring rope 3, winding drum .4, ratchet 5, pawl 6, pawl plate or lever 6', plummet 7 and plummet chain 8, are similar to those now known in the submarine mining art, and form no part of the invention.

A clamping band 9 of any suitable shape and material is connected at one end" to an adjustable tensioning device 10 of any suita ble character such as a turn buckle, the band passing over the mine and the other end I mounted with a ring, loop .or the like 11 adapted to engage over the end of a pivoted arm 15 carried by the pawl lever 6. If desired the bell crank may be provided with an extenslon 16 preferably in the form of a catch, trigger or the like 12, which can be retained from moving downward by a bell crank or other lever or system of links. 13.

On the ring 11 being engaged over the catch or trigger 12 the tensiomng device 10 can be operated so as to put any desired tenslon on the securing band 9, thereby binding the mine and sinker firmly together and preventing any relative movement between them. I c

The arm of thebell crank or the like 13 is provlded wlth a'pin 14 engaging in a slotted hook or catch which is adapted to receive naeepee a link, ring, or the like, on a length of chain, cable or the like 17 secured to the plummet 7 or plummet chai 8.

It will be ebviou g that after the mine and sinker have been clamped together and until the band 9 is released, they will constitute a unit having the property of a single rigid body. On the mine gear being launched, the whole will sink until it takes up the vertical or substantially .the vertical position whereupon the plummet 7 is able to fall from its retaining member. On the tension in the plummet chain '8 being suflicient to pull down the pawl plate 6, against the spring, the arm 15 is drawn downward to throw the ball crank or the like '13 over until it becomes free of the catch or trigger 12 which by the upward pull due to the buoyancy of the mine is thrown to such a position that the ring 11 becomes released and no longer retains the clamping band in position to bind the mine to-the sinker.

The mine and sinker are now connected only by the mooring rope 3,"and the mine, sinker and plummet then perform the normal functions in the well known way.

When laying of mines is to be carried out in shallow water,'in order to get the mines .at the desired depth, it may not be advisable to wait until the plummet has fallen the entire length of the plummet chain before the mine is unclamped from the sinker. In such cases the cable or the like 17 can be employed, and connected to the plummet or to any desired part of the plummet chain, whereby on the cable 17 becoming taut due to the fall of the plummet, the mine is unclamped before the plummet chain is at its full tension. v

In order to guard against the effects of shocks or vibration displacing the bell crank toward the releasing position the catch or trigger 12'may be provided with a spring 18 to offer resilient resistance to the movement of the bell crank 13 toward the releasing position. Instead of the blade spring as shown in the drawing, a spring plunger may be employed. I

To'minimize friction the bell crank or the like 13 may be provided with a roller or the like 19.-

In the form shown in Fig. 3 the securing band 9 and the end connections are similar to those shown in and described with reference to Fig. 1. v

The ring 11 engages 'over a pivoted arm or hook 20 which cooperates with a fixed arm 21 secured to the sinker or any other suitable part. The end of the arm 20 is adapted to be drawn and retained toward the arm 19 by a ring, on or the like 22, of any suitable shape whic is connected by a length of cable or the like 23 either to the plummet 7 or to the plummet chain .8, The

plummet is shown as having a longitudinal bore for the reception of the plummet chain. Such plummets may be of similar construction to, the anchor described in the co-pending application SerialNumber' 212,369.

Th plummet is also shown as being retained from falling. A device for doing I this and for releasing the plummet may be of the type disclosed in co-pending application Serial Number 212,373, and such plummet releasing device forms no part of this invention.

On "the plummet falling the retaining member is pulled off bythe tension in the cable 23 thereby freeing the arm 20 Which isthrown upward by the upward pull due to the buoyancy of the mine. It-will be obvious that by connecting the cable 23 either to the plummet or to some position on the quired to withdraw the catch from engage ment with the hook 26- is comparatively small and a small fraction of the weight of the plummet employed.

The plummet 7 is connected to thecatch 27 through the medium of a shearing or like device, which as shown consists of a rod 28 secured to a tube or guide 2'9 by a shearing pin 30 of suitable material. A. cable orthe' like 31 connects the part 29 with the plummet or plummet chain as desired. The shearing pin 30 is so arranged that the catch 27 is withdrawn from the hook 26 before the pin shears.

. It is obviously necessary for a disruption of this form of connectionl to take place between the plummet and the catch 27 in order that it may be insured that the plummet shall fulfil the normal functions.

On the plummet falling; the downward pull on the catch 27 trips the same to free the hook 26, whereupon the upward pull due to the buoyancy of the mine throws out the hook and the band 9 becomes free. This action takes place before the pull downward reaches the amount necessary to shear the pin 30 so that on the tension in the plummet chain reaching the shearing llmlt disconnection between the slipping device 24 and the plummet or lummet chain takes place.

The modi cation shown in Fig. 5 results in the elimination of any shearing device and to this end the body 25 of the slip is pro-.-

vided with a hook or like projection 32 and the pivoted catch 27 is provided with a hook or rounded end 27 A ring or the like 33 is secured to the cable or the like 31 which is secured to the plummet or plummet chain, the ring being retained between the end of the projection 32 and the end 27' of the catch 27 v On the plummet falling and the tension in themember 31 becoming sufficient, the ring 33 trips the catch 27, to freethe hook 26 as above described with reference to Fig. 4 and the ring 33 is drawn away from between the catch 27 and the projection 32, and complete disconnection between the slip 24 and plummet or plummet chain takes place.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 the plummet chain or wire 8 is wound around a drum 34, passed through a slot or the like into the interior of the drum thence outward more'or less axially'of the same and thenconnected to the pawl plate 6 of the winding drum 4. The drum 34 rotates a shaft 35 having a threaded portion 36 on which av nut I-or threaded block or the like 37 is mounted so as to be incapable of rotation. The securing band 9 and its end connections are similar to those above described. The ring 11 engages over. a. pivoted hook or the like 38 which is adapted to be retained by the nut or block 37. If desired the nut .or block 37 may be recessed or slotted to receive the end of the member-38 as shown on the drawing which is sufiicient to prevent the same from rotating. The nut or block'37 is adjusted on the threaded portion 36 to provide for the desired period of release due to the rotation of the shaft 35, this being possible'by the tensioning device 10 at the other end of the band 9. 1

On the plummet falling the drum 34 is rostated and consequently the shaft 35, causing a displacement of the nut or block 37 and the subsequent release of the member '38.

The plummet chain eventually leaves the winding drum 34through the slot above re-- ferred to and then operates the pawl 6. This arrangement provides for aconsiderable latitude of adjustment for the release of the mine. o 1 I If desired a subsidiary weight can be employed in lieu of the plummet as above described, thefalling of which operates'the releasing device in a manner simllar to that described above. A

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 a hydrostat 39 is mounted on the sinker, the spindle 40 of which carries a, collar 41 connected by a rod-0r the like 42 to a. cam, sector, or the like 43 adapted to engage a roller or the .like 44, on a pivoted catch or trigger 45,

over which the ring 11 on the band 9 is engaged. An adjustable connection 10 as above described is provided at the other end of the band 9. On the whole of the mine ear sinking to the depth for which the hyrostat is set, the hydrostat is operated to rotate the cam or sector 43 away from the end of the catch or trigger which is thereupon rotated by the upward pull of the mine to allow the ring 11 to become free and release the clamping hand 9.

I The catch or trigger 45 and the sector and its connecting rod may be conveniently mounted on the hydrostat so that the whole can be inserted or removed as a unit. 7 In the form shown in Fig. 8 a hydrostat 39 is employed the spindle 40 of which is adapted to retain a pivoted arm or catch 46, engagedby a second pivoted arm 47 with a hook shaped extremity 48 cooperating with a fixed hook 49. The hook 48 in its closed position abuts against the fixed hook 49 and serves to retain the ring 11.

On the mine gear reaching the set depth for which. the hydrostat is set, the hydro stat spindle 40 is withdrawn from the arm 46, and the upward pull on the ring 11 due to the buoyancy of the mine rotates'tlie arm 46 in a'clockwise direction and the arm 47 in a counter-clockwise direction to open the hook and release the ring 11, and the clampin band. V A

y arranging the arms 46, 47 in a manner similar to that shown in the drawing the pressure of the arm 46 on the hydrostat spindle 40 may be made very small.

The ring 11 might beconnected directly on to a hydrostat spindle the movement of which, on the mine gear reaching the depth for which the hydrostat is set, causes it to be withdrawn from the ring. This arrangggement has not been shown, as considered as a working arrangement it is far inferior to the arrangement described with reference to Fig. 8, as will be readily appreciated by all those having a knowledge of the requirements for the successful working hydrostats.

It is to beunderstood that the construe tions above described with reference to the drawings, are byway of example only, and the invention is in no way limited to those constructions as considerable variation may be made from them, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,

and in what manner the same. is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is 1. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in combination with the mine and sinker, a clamping band extending around said mine, having one end adjustably and the other end releasabl fastened to said sinker, and-means for un astening said releasable end.

2. An improvement in submarine mines member comprising in combination with the mine, sinker and plummet, a clamping band extending around said mine, one end of which is secured and the other end releasably fastened to said sinker, a pivoted member mounted on said sinker for engaging the releasably fastened end of said clamping band, and means cooperating with said pivoted adaptedto-release said clamping band.

3. An improvement in submarine mlnes comprising in combination with the mine,

sinker and plummet, a clamping band extending around said mine and having one end permanently and the other end releasably fastened to said sinker, a pivoted member mounted on saidsinker, a trip cooperating with said pivoted member, and means to operate said trip.

4. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in combination with the mine, sinker and plummet, a clamping band extending around said mine and having one end adjustably and the other end releasably fastened to said, sinker, a' pivoted arm mounted on said sinker and engaging the releasably' fastened end of said clamping band, a bell crank engaging said pivoted arm, and means adaptedto trip said bellcrank.

5. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in combination with the mine, sinker and plummet, a clamping band extending around said mine and having one end adjustably and the other end releasably fastened to said sinker whereby said mine and sinker are normally secured together as a unit, means including a pivoted hook for engaging the releasable end of said band and a catch for normally maintaining said hook in engagement, and means connecting said catch with the plummet, said means being adapted to operate the catch so as to release the clamping band and then to be disconnected to fall with the plummet.

6. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in combination with the mine, sinker and plummet, means extending around the mine and fastened to the sinker for securing the mine and sinker together, adapted to be released by the fall of the plummet.

7. An improvement in submarine mines, comprisin sinker an plummet, clamping means extending around the mine and adapted to engage'said mine and sinker, retaining members adapted to releasably secure said clamping means in position to maintain said mine and sinker together as a unit, and means operated by the fall of the plummet to trip said retaining means.

8. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in combination with the mine in combination with the mine,v

and sinker, a clamping band extending around said mine, having one end adjustably and the other end releasably fastened to said sinker to maintain the mine and sinker together as a-unit.

9. An improvement in submarine mines comprising in. combination with the mine and sinker, means extending around the mine and fastened to the sinker to maintain the mine and sinker together as a unit.

Signed at London, England, this 30th day of November, 1917.

GERARD BROOK RILEY. GARLTON COLLINGWOOD SHERMAN. HERBERT OOTAVIUS MOGK. 

